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Animal Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint regarding a neighbour's dog, there are a number of things you can do. First of all, try to solve the problem by talking it over with your neighbours. They may not have realised that their dog is causing a problem and in many cases they will be happy to do what they can to help.

If this approach is unsuccessful you could contact a Community Justice Centre, a government-funded, independent centre that specialises in settling disputes between neighbours in a way that avoids lengthy and costly legal processes. North Sydney's nearest Community Justice Centre is located at Level 19, 323 Castlereagh Street, Sydney tel: (02) 9218 5955

Council's Policy

North Sydney Council's involvement in a complaint begins within these procedural limits:

  1. Council must receive two independent complaints within a continuous 14-day period before Rangers commence an investigation.
  2. Four single, independent complaints received within a continuous 90-day period will lead to an investigation by Rangers.
  3. Single, unsupported complaints are dealt with by mail and only when the complainant provides the address of the offending animal.

When Council receives a complaint about a dog we:

  • suggest that the complainant speaks to the owner of the dog and alerts them to the problem
  • write to the owner of the dog informing them that a complaint has been lodged and suggesting that they take whatever steps are necessary to solve the problem

If there is no improvement in the problem, and there is only one complainant we then send a questionnaire to near neighbours. The questionnaire asks residents to:

  • identify the offending dog
  • identify the offence
  • suggest reasons why the dog becomes disturbed and inform Council whether or not they are prepared to testify in a court of law

If there are multiple complainants the survey may be dispensed with.

On the basis of responses to the questionnaires we will either inform the complainant that insufficient evidence exists for Council to pursue the matter or ask the dog owner to show cause why a Nuisance Dog Order should not be issued. Based on the response (or lack thereof) an Order may then be issued.

Complainants may also pursue the matter privately by lodging a complaint with the Chamber Magistrate at North Sydney Courthouse.

A person to whom an order is issued does not have a right to appeal. Should the dog continue to cause a noise nuisance, the owner of the dog may be issued with an on-the-spot fine of $220 each time a breach of the order occurs.